TY - JOUR A1 - Akimbekov, Nuraly A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Abdieva, Gulzhamal A1 - Ualieva, Perizat A1 - Tastambek, Kuanysh T1 - Lignite biosolubilization and bioconversion by Bacillus sp.: the collation of analytical data JF - Biofuels N2 - The vast metabolic potential of microbes in brown coal (lignite) processing and utilization can greatly contribute to innovative approaches to sustainable production of high-value products from coal. In this study, the multi-faceted and complex coal biosolubilization process by Bacillus sp. RKB 7 isolate from the Kazakhstan coal-mining soil is reported, and the derived products are characterized. Lignite solubilization tests performed for surface and suspension cultures testify to the formation of numerous soluble lignite-derived substances. Almost 24% of crude lignite (5% w/v) was solubilized within 14 days under slightly alkaline conditions (pH 8.2). FTIR analysis revealed various functional groups in the obtained biosolubilization products. Analyses of the lignite-derived humic products by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrometry as well as elemental analysis yielded compatible results indicating the emerging products had a lower molecular weight and degree of aromaticity. Furthermore, XRD and SEM analyses were used to evaluate the biosolubilization processes from mineralogical and microscopic points of view. The findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of microbe–mineral interactions in coal environments, but also contribute to knowledge of coal biosolubilization and bioconversion with regard to sustainable production of humic substances. The detailed and comprehensive analyses demonstrate the huge biotechnological potential of Bacillus sp. for agricultural productivity and environmental health. KW - humic acid KW - Bacillus sp KW - lignite KW - Biosolubilization Y1 - 2021 SN - 1759-7277 VL - 12 IS - 3 SP - 247 EP - 258 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Akimbekov, Nuraly S. A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Tastambek, Kuanysh T. A1 - Sherelkhan, Dinara K. A1 - Jussupova, Dariya B. A1 - Altynbay, Nazym P. T1 - Low-rank coal as a source of humic substances for soil amendment and fertility management JF - Agriculture N2 - Humic substances (HS), as important environmental components, are essential to soil health and agricultural sustainability. The usage of low-rank coal (LRC) for energy generation has declined considerably due to the growing popularity of renewable energy sources and gas. However, their potential as soil amendment aimed to maintain soil quality and productivity deserves more recognition. LRC, a highly heterogeneous material in nature, contains large quantities of HS and may effectively help to restore the physicochemical, biological, and ecological functionality of soil. Multiple emerging studies support the view that LRC and its derivatives can positively impact the soil microclimate, nutrient status, and organic matter turnover. Moreover, the phytotoxic effects of some pollutants can be reduced by subsequent LRC application. Broad geographical availability, relatively low cost, and good technical applicability of LRC offer the advantage of easy fulfilling soil amendment and conditioner requirements worldwide. This review analyzes and emphasizes the potential of LRC and its numerous forms/combinations for soil amelioration and crop production. A great benefit would be a systematic investment strategy implicating safe utilization and long-term application of LRC for sustainable agricultural production. KW - soil remediation KW - crop yield KW - soil health KW - soil amendment KW - low-rank coal Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121261 SN - 2077-0472 N1 - This article belongs to the Special Issue "From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture" VL - 11 IS - 12 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Albanna, Walid A1 - Conzen, Catharina A1 - Weiss, Miriam A1 - Seyfried, Katharina A1 - Kotliar, Konstantin A1 - Schmidt, Tobias Philip A1 - Kuerten, David A1 - Hescheler, Jürgen A1 - Bruecken, Anne A1 - Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno A1 - Neumaier, Felix A1 - Wiesmann, Martin A1 - Clusmann, Hans A1 - Schubert, Gerrit Alexander T1 - Non-invasive assessment of neurovascular coupling after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective observational trial using retinal vessel analysis JF - Frontiers in Neurology N2 - Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a common complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and can lead to infarction and poor clinical outcome. The underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood, but animal models indicate that vasoactive metabolites and inflammatory cytokines produced within the subarachnoid space may progressively impair and partially invert neurovascular coupling (NVC) in the brain. Because cerebral and retinal microvasculature are governed by comparable regulatory mechanisms and may be connected by perivascular pathways, retinal vascular changes are increasingly recognized as a potential surrogate for altered NVC in the brain. Here, we used non-invasive retinal vessel analysis (RVA) to assess microvascular function in aSAH patients at different times after the ictus. Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.690183 SN - 1664-2295 VL - 12 IS - 12 SP - 1 EP - 15 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ball, Christopher Stephen A1 - Vögele, Stefan A1 - Grajewski, Matthias A1 - Kuckshinrichs, Wilhelm T1 - E-mobility from a multi-actor point of view: Uncertainties and their impacts JF - Technological Forecasting and Social Change Y1 - 2021 SN - 0040-1625 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120925 VL - 170 IS - Art. 120925 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Becht, Alexander A1 - Schollmayer, Curd A1 - Monakhova, Yulia A1 - Holzgrabe, Ulrike T1 - Tracing the origin of paracetamol tablets by near-infrared, mid-infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis JF - Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry N2 - Most drugs are no longer produced in their own countries by the pharmaceutical companies, but by contract manufacturers or at manufacturing sites in countries that can produce more cheaply. This not only makes it difficult to trace them back but also leaves room for criminal organizations to fake them unnoticed. For these reasons, it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine the exact origin of drugs. The goal of this work was to investigate how exactly this is possible by using different spectroscopic methods like nuclear magnetic resonance and near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy in combination with multivariate data analysis. As an example, 56 out of 64 different paracetamol preparations, collected from 19 countries around the world, were chosen to investigate whether it is possible to determine the pharmaceutical company, manufacturing site, or country of origin. By means of suitable pre-processing of the spectra and the different information contained in each method, principal component analysis was able to evaluate manufacturing relationships between individual companies and to differentiate between production sites or formulations. Linear discriminant analysis showed different results depending on the spectral method and purpose. For all spectroscopic methods, it was found that the classification of the preparations to their manufacturer achieves better results than the classification to their pharmaceutical company. The best results were obtained with nuclear magnetic resonance and near-infrared data, with 94.6%/99.6% and 98.7/100% of the spectra of the preparations correctly assigned to their pharmaceutical company or manufacturer. KW - IR KW - Manufacturer KW - Linear discriminant analysis KW - Principal component analysis Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03249-z SN - 1618-2650 VL - 413 SP - 3107 EP - 3118 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bergs, Michel A1 - Monakhova, Yulia A1 - Diehl, Bernd W. A1 - Konow, Christopher A1 - Völkering, Georg A1 - Pude, Ralf A1 - Schulze, Margit T1 - Lignins isolated via catalyst-free organosolv pulping from Miscanthus x giganteus, M. sinensis, M. robustus and M. nagara: a comparative study JF - Molecules N2 - As a low-input crop, Miscanthus offers numerous advantages that, in addition to agricultural applications, permits its exploitation for energy, fuel, and material production. Depending on the Miscanthus genotype, season, and harvest time as well as plant component (leaf versus stem), correlations between structure and properties of the corresponding isolated lignins differ. Here, a comparative study is presented between lignins isolated from M. x giganteus, M. sinensis, M. robustus and M. nagara using a catalyst-free organosolv pulping process. The lignins from different plant constituents are also compared regarding their similarities and differences regarding monolignol ratio and important linkages. Results showed that the plant genotype has the weakest influence on monolignol content and interunit linkages. In contrast, structural differences are more significant among lignins of different harvest time and/or season. Analyses were performed using fast and simple methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Data was assigned to four different linkages (A: β-O-4 linkage, B: phenylcoumaran, C: resinol, D: β-unsaturated ester). In conclusion, A content is particularly high in leaf-derived lignins at just under 70% and significantly lower in stem and mixture lignins at around 60% and almost 65%. The second most common linkage pattern is D in all isolated lignins, the proportion of which is also strongly dependent on the crop portion. Both stem and mixture lignins, have a relatively high share of approximately 20% or more (maximum is M. sinensis Sin2 with over 30%). In the leaf-derived lignins, the proportions are significantly lower on average. Stem samples should be chosen if the highest possible lignin content is desired, specifically from the M. x giganteus genotype, which revealed lignin contents up to 27%. Due to the better frost resistance and higher stem stability, M. nagara offers some advantages compared to M. x giganteus. Miscanthus crops are shown to be very attractive lignocellulose feedstock (LCF) for second generation biorefineries and lignin generation in Europe. Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040842 SN - 1420-3049 N1 - Special Issue Lignin – A Natural Resource with Huge Potential https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/lignin_natural VL - 26 IS - 4 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bernecker, Andreas A1 - Boyer, Pierre C. A1 - Gathmann, Christina T1 - The Role of Electoral Incentives for Policy Innovation: Evidence from the US Welfare Reform JF - American Economic Journal: Economic Policy Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/pol.20190690 SN - 1945-774X VL - 13 IS - 2 SP - 26 EP - 57 PB - American Economic Association CY - Nashville, Tenn. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Blanke, Tobias A1 - Reger, Vitali A1 - Döring, Bernd A1 - Göttsche, Joachim A1 - Kuhnhenne, Markus T1 - Koaxiale Stahlenergiepfähle JF - Stahlbau N2 - Ein entscheidender Teil der Energiewende ist die Wärmewende im Gebäudesektor. Ein Schlüsselelement sind hier Wärmepumpen. Diese benötigen eine Wärmequelle, der sie Energie entziehen können, um sie auf ein höheres Temperaturniveau zu transformieren. Diese Wärmequelle kann bspw. das Erdreich sein, dessen Wärme durch Erdsonden erschlossen werden kann. In diesem Beitrag werden in Stahlpfähle integrierte Koaxialsonden mit dem Stand der Technik von Erdsonden gleichen Durchmessers bezüglich ihrer thermischen Leistungsmerkmale verglichen. Die Stahlenergiepfähle bieten neben der Wärmegewinnung weitere Vorteile, da sie auch eine statische Funktion übernehmen und rückstandsfrei zurückgebaut werden können. Es werden analytische und numerische Berechnungen vorgestellt, um die thermischen Potenziale beider Systeme zu vergleichen. Außerdem wird ein Testaufbau gezeigt, bei dem Stahlenergiepfähle in zwei verschiedenen Längen mit vorhandenen gängigen Erdsonden verglichen werden können. Die Berechnungen zeigen einen deutlichen thermischen Mehrertrag zwischen 26 % und 148 % der Stahlenergiepfähle gegenüber dem Stand der Technik abhängig vom Erdreich. Die Messergebnisse zeigen einen thermischen Mehrertrag von über 100 %. Es lässt sich also signifikante Erdsondenlänge einsparen. Dabei ist zu beachten, dass sich damit der thermisch genutzte Bereich des Erdreichs reduziert, wodurch die thermische Regeneration und/oder das Langzeitverhalten des Erdreichs an Bedeutung gewinnt. Y1 - 2021 VL - 90. 2021 IS - 6 SP - 417 EP - 424 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bohndick, Carla A1 - Bosse, Elke A1 - Jänsch, Vanessa K. A1 - Barnat, Miriam T1 - How different diversity factors affect the perception of first-year requirements in higher education JF - Frontline Learning Research N2 - In the light of growing university entry rates, higher education institutions not only serve larger numbers of students, but also seek to meet first-year students’ ever more diverse needs. Yet to inform universities how to support the transition to higher education, research only offers limited insights. Current studies tend to either focus on the individual factors that affect student success or they highlight students’ social background and their educational biography in order to examine the achievement of selected, non-traditional groups of students. Both lines of research appear to lack integration and often fail to take organisational diversity into account, such as different types of higher education institutions or degree programmes. For a more comprehensive understanding of student diversity, the present study includes individual, social and organisational factors. To gain insights into their role for the transition to higher education, we examine how the different factors affect the students’ perception of the formal and informal requirements of the first year as more or less difficult to cope with. As the perceived requirements result from both the characteristics of the students and the institutional context, they allow to investigate transition at the interface of the micro and the meso level of higher education. Latent profile analyses revealed that there are no profiles with complex patterns of perception of the first-year requirements, but the identified groups rather differ in the overall level of perceived challenges. Moreover, SEM indicates that the differences in the perception largely depend on the individual factors self-efficacy and volition. Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.14786/flr.v9i2.667 SN - 2295-3159 VL - 9 IS - 2 SP - 78 EP - 95 PB - EARLI ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Sebastian A1 - Cheng, Chi-Tsun A1 - Dowey, Steve A1 - Wollert, Jörg T1 - Performance evaluation of skill-based order-assignment in production environments with multi-agent systems JF - IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics N2 - The fourth industrial revolution introduces disruptive technologies to production environments. One of these technologies are multi-agent systems (MASs), where agents virtualize machines. However, the agent's actual performances in production environments can hardly be estimated as most research has been focusing on isolated projects and specific scenarios. We address this gap by implementing a highly connected and configurable reference model with quantifiable key performance indicators (KPIs) for production scheduling and routing in single-piece workflows. Furthermore, we propose an algorithm to optimize the search of extrema in highly connected distributed systems. The benefits, limits, and drawbacks of MASs and their performances are evaluated extensively by event-based simulations against the introduced model, which acts as a benchmark. Even though the performance of the proposed MAS is, on average, slightly lower than the reference system, the increased flexibility allows it to find new solutions and deliver improved factory-planning outcomes. Our MAS shows an emerging behavior by using flexible production techniques to correct errors and compensate for bottlenecks. This increased flexibility offers substantial improvement potential. The general model in this paper allows the transfer of the results to estimate real systems or other models. KW - cyber-physical production systems KW - event-based simulation KW - multi-agent systems KW - digital factory KW - industrial agents Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JESTIE.2021.3108524 SN - 2687-9735 IS - Early Access PB - IEEE CY - New York ER -